"always smiling and always will"...a moto of mine that has stuck with me for years. Loving life since my transplant! Taking on various challenges from the Bupa Great South Run; UK, European & World Transplant Games in various sports; travelling the globe & sailing in the Clipper 11-12 Race. This year competing with Team GB in the World Transplant Games, South Africa

Jussie sails with Clipper 11-12

I sailed the last leg (8) in 2012 - USA,Nova Scotia,Ireland,Netherlands & UK. Travelling 4,000 miles, approx 22 days at sea, with 4 races in this leg.

Tuesday, 1 May 2012

4 weeks to go #Goodbyes & #Hellos - What to Expect From my #Sailing

So it's the 4 week countdown to #sailing around part of the world in the #Clipperrace.

Hello to:-
no luxury
sailing clothes
waterproofs and base layers
no makeup/no glamour/no nice clothes
frizzy/knotty hair
back to basics
wet wipes instead of showering!
no privacy
cold
my Gauss sleeping bag and small bunk space
getting to know the crew more and skipper
work as a watch system - 4 hours on/off
sailing regime as exercise
no lazying about unless quiet watch
sleeping when dictated to (4 hrs)
tea/coffee onboard yacht - no way Starbucks or home quality
pasta, rice, carb meals - no healthy foods - just carb/energy foods
tinned/packet foods
news - just satelitte/radar watch news
seeing dolphins/sharks
no TV/cinema..lol
elements of the sea/weather
mental and physical challenges
sleep deprivation
mood challenges if tired/hungry
bruises from working on deck
excitement
fear/scaryness when weather/sea very bad
swimming in the ocean ;)

and this list goes on and on!!!!! I'm sure there is lots more to add, but it will give you a feel of what life will be like for my duration. No way easy and something I am ready to face! Goodbye the Jussie who likes to doll up - time to dress down and work hard as part of a team.

I am looking forward to seeing different countries and making new friends. I fly out with my friend, Wend also in the race on another yacht and we will enjoy sightseeing, and eating LOTS before setting sail. I have also been in contact with other ladies with LAM and hope to meet them in New York too (and some other friends). So, it will be all good vibes and fuelled up with burgers/waffles/cheesecake as a nice energy fat layer.

Contact ME

World Transplant Games

Website used from 2005-2009

About Me

I am very lucky to be alive after a double-lung transplant in July 2006. I suffered the rarest lung disease called, Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (Lam). I kept fighting for my life and trying to breathe each time my lung collapsed (15 times). I used to be on 24 hour oxygen to help me breathe and also wheelchair bound. At one stage I ended up in a coma (3weeks) and remained on life support for almost 2 months. I had to learn how to walk again with a zimaframe, and start to re-build my life/confidence/strength up. I want to enjoy my life with the extension this transplant has given me. My journey post transplant has been challenging with health issues, but, I try to remain as positive as possible.